The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-10
CAPTAIN JACK DYSON.
An Efficient Clerk and a Brave
Fireman.

n see hat worthless Jack Dyson has
been elected foreman of the volunteer
fire company" remarked Mr.. August
Delaporte, as he glazed through the
local paper "a nice set they are,
truly, wasting their time running uI
and down the street with q fire engine.
when they ought to be at home. It's
only an excuse for reveling and max.
ing a show of themselves"
Mr. Delaporte did not see, or pre-
tended not to see, the crimson blush
that mantlel the fair cheeks of his
daughter Ella when he made this re.
mark.
why, father" she said, 'you
know Jack Dyson earns his own liv-
ing
Yes, clcrking at ten dollars a
week." interrupted the father.
We'll, it's an honest living, if his
pay is only ten dollars a week. And
I've often heard you boast that you be-
gan on two dollars a week and your
board; and now see all that you own"
rejoined Ella.
And a gratitied look overspread Mr..
Delaporte's ruddy, well.prcserved
countenance as his daughters words
called up in mental review the memo
ries Of his early struggles and OF his
financial ,riumphs.
Mr.. Delaporte was a widower, with
one child-Ella; and on her his afec.
ton was concentrated. Elias mother
died soon after the birth of her babe.
and a housekeeper, well advanced in
years, attended to the far from exact.
Ing domestic requirements.
The CLEAN of satisfaction on Mr.. De.
laportc's brow was, however, soon sue.
ceeded by a frown, as the evolution of
thought brought before his minds eve
the stalwart, manly figure of young
Jack Dyson, bending with n lovers
devotion over the upturned face and
yielding form of Ella. The penniless
clerk had actually dared to m axe love
to his daughter, and he had ordered
Jack out OF the house, with q stern in
Junction never to set foot there again.
And now. when Jacks name turned
up in the Moshassuck Falls Cleaner,
as foreman of that odious fire engine
company. Mr. Delaporte's unfayorable
opinion of the young man was the
more strongly intrenchcd.
Il would never have got where |
nm now, daughter he answered her,
III had spent my evenings galivant-
ing around in q red shirt and helmet,
instead OF attending to business. And
please don't let Inc hear you mention
Jack Dyson's name again"-as if he
had not mentioned it first himself.
And Ella, with a detected air, sank
into obcdient silence.
But when the Grcmen, with Jack Mt
their head, paraded through the
streets, in their new uniforms, and
drawing by hand the fine new engine
purchased for them by popular sub
scription, Ella could not help smiling,
from the front gate, her admiration
OF the spectacle, and especially of the
handsome foreman, who looked every
mel a captain.s and worthy to com
mand' if he was a grocery clerk at ten
dollars n week.
we Mr.: Dclaporte growlingly adj
mltted, after the procession had
passed, that Jack Dyson did look
stunning in his new logs; but fine
feathers do not make fine birds"
But Jack had caught Elias smile,
and he did not hear tho fathers
growl, and the beam Of sunshine from
her he loved made him happier than
all the hurrahs that greeted tho
paraders and their gallant leader on
that propitious day.
Several months passed without the
ilremen Having occasion to put their
courage to a test. Meantime. another
suitor appeared for the hand and
heart Of Ella Delaportc. He was the
son OF The leading mill owner Of Mos.
hassuck Falls, and his father was re-
puted to bc very wealthy.
Mr.. Delaporte encouraged his Wis.
Its, and Ella, in Difference to her
father. passively permitted his atten-
dons. But when Newton Slocum5-